Little Silver Moves to Keep New Home Sizes in Check

The Little Silver Borough Council amended the borough's land use ordinance on Monday so that it will now incorporate a proposed new home's entire floor area ratio, and not just its footprint, when determining what conforms to lot size.

"The ordinance will help keep the bulk of new homes going up in check," said Mayor Robert Neff, Jr. during an initial discussion of the amendment at the Sept. 10 council meeting.

According to Little Silver Planning Board Attorney Michael Leckstein, most municipalities use floor area ratio to determine how big a house can be on a specific lot. The council took advantage of a window that allowed the borough to re-examine its master plan and make the changes without having to notice residents who would be affected by the amendment.

"This is a golden opportunity to do it," said Leckstein. "It's been on our agenda for years."

The ordinance will affect homes zoned R-2 and R-3, described on the borough's zoning map as "medium density residential." The R-2 Zone consists of streets like Winding Way and Prince Place, while R-3 Zone roadways include Salem Lane and Woodbine Avenue. (See map at right for detailed zoning in the borough).

"This adds a new parameter you have to meet which was not there before," said Councilman Don Galante in an e-mail Wednesday.